1843 Tasting Notes
I am the lucky who got the rest of derk’s pouch from White Antlers. Thank you both again!
Certainly I got cocoa from dry leaves. Raisins! Peanuts in chocolate? Amazing smell. I can smell it all day!
Decided to brew as on label. The rest, which was 3.5 gram I just steeped for 3 minutes in 212°F water, though in 10 oz (300 ml). I will do second with 5 minutes for sure, maybe third with 8 minutes as suggested here in description.
The brewed tea smells very chocolately and I love that somehow today. Sip brought me mouthcoating experinece. With flavours: sweet potato, leather, baked bread, peanuts and cocoa and bit malty.
Now I am sad I haven’t tried this tea gong-fu. Is it a big mistake?
The mouthfeel is bit grainy, though I don’t mind it at all. It is part of the experience.
2nd steep
The aroma is pretty much same as first; though it’s more to baked bread. Honey notes.
It’s equally great as first. Even in taste it’s more bready, not so mouthcoating. But still great. It’s so great I am drinking and almost gulping the tea while still very, very hot.
I would like more! To play with it gong-fu, or grandpa, or even more western steeps.
Flavors: Bread, Chocolate, Cocoa, Honey, Leather, Malt, Peanut, Raisins, Sweet Potatoes
Preparation
SIPDOWN and note lost because my Internet provider, but not having hard feelings; it’s rather my fault that I haven’t noticed I lost Wi-Fi connection. It was too long anyway.
I did 3 steeps, as ashmanra suggested to me last time. Three minutes first and adding a minute each next one.
First was certainly most flavourful, sweet cinnamon, dough, waffles, pastries, maple syrup; much better than 4 minutes session last time. Strong aroma of roasted almonds and other nuts filled my 20 sq. m. room very quickly and it made me cozy. The only bad note was it was now and then bit bark-like; but some sugar or other sweetener would make it disappear I guess. I have highly enjoyed it, though it WAS too sweet for me.
Second steep was weaker and I noticed quite similar flavour profile though weaker and certainly less sweet. Something was missing the point though.
Third? That was dismal, but expected. It was clove water with hints of cinnamon. The tea was just washed out. Two steeps? Yes, not bad. Three? Way too much!
I will keep 54, but as I said: too sweet for me. Can be tasty for sweet tea drinkers. Thank you though derk and ashmanra. I just hope this won’t be in my Advent :P
Flavors: Cinnamon, Maple Syrup, Pastries, Roasted Nuts, Sugar, Sweet
Preparation
I haven’t tried this one, but maybe Yoj gest will let me have a cup from hers so I can see just how sweet it is! I am intrigued by the many comments of it being too sweet. I don’t add sugar, so maybe it will be too sweet for me, too.
I can suggest doing the first steep, and maybe keep it short :) But definitely worth trying. I am curious what you would think about it. If Youngest allows :D
I will ask her if I can raid her unopened package! Check in tomorrow!
I am with amandastory516 that it smells like mustard. Spicy and strong mustard.
But after brew it is much, much better. The combination of jasmine and spearmint on white base worked very well, I notice little of orange and clove. Cooling and quite tasty! Maybe I have been expecting something bit different, but certainly not bad blend.
Flavors: Jasmine, Spearmint
Preparation
SIPDOWN of derk’s tea (I think). Thank you.
Quote on tag: “Speak to make yourself happy, don’t speak to impress others” I guess it’s true! And many people aren’t actually doing it. So a quote to live by, I guess.
The tea. Well, I am not impressed as in previous attempts of this tea. I guess it was even worse and sickly sweet because stevia. Spices were strong, if you call spices the ginger. I haven’t noticed nothing else.
Happy to have it finished. That’s all.
Flavors: Ginger
Preparation
SIPDOWN
Decided to try my new gaiwan from Tangpin (thank you Mastress Alita). Based on tasting notes, I have tried this tea only once since I have received it from derk — thank you as well! And back then I tried it grandpa. Used 5 grams.
For photo of my new gaiwan (and my whole brewing set), see here: https://flic.kr/p/2k8TCH6 The tea towel beneath was a gift from them.
My new gaiwan should have 125 ml volume, which is higher than previous one. Morerover, it is bit better in design set to my tea cup, than brown one, don’t you think?
I made quick rinse, and wet leaves aroma was black currant (I am only one?), woody, bamboo, not much of nutty. Rinse is mellow and quite strong, but can’t pick up any notes now. Maybe hints of tobacco. A little sweetness.
20 seconds
It is quite strong brew, it kinda surprised me. Creamy though, I get the bay leaf, woody (but not strongly), thick. And enjoyable!
40 seconds
Another strong, thick, but creamy steep. More on woody note, bit tart, but honestly I don’t get any nutty flavours.
60 seconds
Gets bit on bitter side, but I don’t mind. Dry red wine note as well.
80 seconds
It is weak already, I think it doesn’t work well making many steeps. It’s not bad tea, but needs only few steeps. This steep tastes like a bit bland shu, woody, and that’s all.
I have to say, gaiwan came just in time, as I am almost without the empty tea bags which I have been using for loose leaf. And they aren’t available in a shop I was buying them for quite cheap :( I hope they will get restocked soon! I don’t want to place another order somewhere to have it delivered.
Raising a rate from 66 to 72
Flavors: Bamboo, Black Currant, Creamy, Red Wine, Thick, Tobacco, Wood
Preparation
That is a beautiful tea set!
I got a tea towel too! Are you liking your gaiwan? I’ve kinda been avoiding getting one because last time I tried one it just killed my fingers so badly, so now I brew in a tiny little pumpkin-shaped teapot I got from Tangpin. I have really been enjoying it!
Thank you gmathis!
Mastress Alita I find it quite firm and it’s well insulated so fingers don’t burn at all! I think it is quite thick ceramic. Pour is great as well, but truth is I have quite wide cup, hah! The tea towel looks great and at least I don’t have to care about spilling the water or tea when brewing :) It can leave quite bad marks on the tables!
That set is stunning Martin!! I hope you enjoy brewing with it :)
I don’t usually post any photos as you Ros, but when I do… I am glad that you like it! As I wrote to Mastress Alita, it seems really great to use!
Beautiful set, Martin! I hope it encourages you to drink MORE tea. lol
What a beautiful set! May you enjoy many happy cups of tea with it!
Thank you White Antlers and ashmanra :)
Thank you derk and White Antlers for another thing I would never try unless it being sent to me?
It’s weird. It’s not tea, it’s parasitic plant growing on tea-trees. Related to mistletoe. Maybe healthy. Maybe… well, see comments under derk’s note; there are few scientific papers shared! The caffeine-level is very low though!
Anyway I decided to brew it in the morning. Food pairing was cereal kaiser roll with cheddar. Yummy. Anyway back to the tea. Brewed grandpa, two teaspoons. The derk’s note is just correct. Fresh air aroma, some herbal note. The taste is DELICIOUS somehow. Mineral-milky-mild. Slightly sweet, especially as aftertaste, refreshing and cooling.
So weird, but so nice!
Preparation
Took two teaspoons for my 300 ml cup. Steeped for 5 minutes.
Baked bread notes were first notes I have noted. Then malty, dried fruits. Woody in the end. All together quite works well, enjoyable. Mild, even the steep was quite long.
I liked it, as it was quite strong and brisk. Woody aftertaste wasn’t a troublesome, instead it was like somehow expected flavour. Again, I haven’t noticed any soy sauce in this.
I still have something left, I think it will be around 1 tsp, which I may try gong-fu (where is my new gaiwan!?) I think it is bit behind the What-cha offer, but still pretty great, especially for the age.
Thank you derk and White Antlers.
Flavors: Bread, Dried Fruit, Malt, Wood
Preparation
I got 10 grams from derk, thank you and ashmanra maybe? Or not? I am again confused.
While I am writing those lines, Steepster is down again. Dashboard is stuck. I hope it will work correctly during Advent calendar period! And I can’t wait for my Advent calendar from this company. Based on tracking, it seems it’s in Chicago already! That means it could be delivered quite fast maybe?
Anyway, to the tea. I saw big chamomile buds in pouch and, well, I am not fan of chamomile. I actually dislike pure chamomile teas. But on the bottom there is something like rooibos? Something else than just chamomile? Sounds better.
I have opened the pouch. I notice maple? Apples? Spices? That indeed seems better!
The pouch weight is 10 grams. How much I should use? I have decided for half.
I brewed for 5 minutes and I immidiately start to inhale the aroma and felt cozy.
The taste is good to. Maybe the aroma hyped me maybe bit too much, because it’s mostly chamomile in tate. Yep, I know it is chamomile based blend, so what I was expecting, right? But beneath the chamomile, there is more. I am not really sure what is it, as there shouldn’t be any apples, but I think my mind is only playing with me because it reminds me rather apple-cinnamon blends that my mother loves and we had tried a several blends. I like the full-body flavour; it’s not watery at all. Actually rather thick.
Certainly cinnamon is present, some sweetness as well. Not that sure about pumpkin as label suggests, but I don’t mind :)
Oh well, an amazing tea for grey day as today with rain showers. I went to post-office to send few postcards (postcrossing) again. Two to US (east coast), Russia (far east part), Belarus and Germany. I didn’t mind the rain, I really needed to get out of my house as I am usually going to the store and back… only.
Flavors: Apple, Cinnamon, Maple, Spices
Preparation
Having an excuse to leave the house is nice. Toronto might be going into another lockdown, so I’ll be staying home even more.
Sorry to hear that Leafhopper. We are in half-lockdown. Schools were closed (but primary are opening now), libraries, museums, restaurants, bars… all closed down. Restaurants can have take-away, at least.
But I am already so tired of distance learing. *sighs
I am indeed recently looking for some reasons going out, but unfortuntately don’t have much time!
I just ordered a Cuppageek Advent calendar…partly for myself, and partly for some mini-Christmas treats to share with friends.
Restaurants are closed here for dine-in service, though takeout and delivery are allowed. I wouldn’t be surprised if schools and libraries are shut down in the near future. Sigh. I imagine that distance learning is getting old, especially since it can be hard to focus after a while.
I hear you Martin. We are in modified lockdown AGAIN. Many restaurants are closed from 11/20 through March or April, all the museums are closed until next year, movie theaters closed, offices have to have staff working from home again, no public gatherings over 10 people, no private gatherings over 10 (and everyone has to be RELATED-but how will THAT be enforced?!), gyms closed, restaurants can only serve outdoors but now the days are in the 40s and 50s (Fahrenheit) and it gets down to freezing at night. If you go to a restaurant as a group, it can only be a group of 4 and once again, everyone must be from the same household. WHAT?! I understand that precautions are necessary and I will abide by them but working from home and being home ALL the time (don’t drive) I am going absolutely stir crazy.
I don’t drive either and am trying not to use public transportation, so I’m also going a bit stir crazy. I think these restrictions are hard on everyone, although I absolutely think they’re necessary and am following them. I wish some people wouldn’t be irresponsible and have huge parties (one gathering of a hundred people was shut down in Toronto this weekend) so that the rest of us don’t have to suffer. Anyway, thank goodness for tea, which makes staying home a bit more bearable!
Leafhopper I love Canada. When I have visited, the people I encountered have been incredibly courteous and civilized and I always felt safe there, even when traveling alone. I thought is was just us rough around the edges Americans who where the scofflaws during this pandemic. Tea, the company of cats, some good books, netflix, Amazon Prime series and movies and mindfulness are on my side-and things could always be worse.
I’m glad you enjoyed travelling in Canada! Most of us Canadians are law abiding to a fault, but sadly, not all of us are. We have our fair share of anti-maskers and those who don’t think the rules apply to them. I’m also reading more than usual and enjoy visiting my neighbour’s cat, although that hasn’t happened recently due to the pandemic. I’m also spending more time doing gongfu sessions and looking at tea I shouldn’t buy.
Looking at tea I shouldn’t buy has become a favorite pasttime of mine as well the last few weeks…
I do the once a week shopping cart routine now with anything I think I need when I boredom shop online. I allow myself to fill a shopping cart but the rule is that the cart’s contents have to sit for a week before I press ‘buy.’ As a result, I have spent very little money during the pandemic. For me, it feels like simply pretending that the sky’s the limit with shopping is usually as satisfying as having the goods. It’s nice to go back to the cart(s) when the week is up, say to myself-“What the heck were you thinking?”, have a laugh over my foolishness and then delete the contents of those carts. Sometimes dreaming is as good as doing. Or having.
I like this one, too, Martin! We have been drinking it at night a lot, plus another called Baked Apple Pie with a Dash of Rum. GMathis is the reason I ordered that last one, although I don’t taste rum in it.
White Antlers, sitting on your shopping cart for a week is a good idea. You’re right that a lot of boredom shopping is just daydreaming. This’ll be hard during all the Black Friday sales, though. I’m sure I’ll convince myself that I “need” more Dan Cong and unsmoked Zheng Shan Xiao Zhong, which are the teas I’ve been filling my fantasy shopping carts with lately. (I also bought these teas a couple weeks ago, though they have yet to arrive.)
Martin: I like to send you chamomile because you don’t like chamomile. Am I sadist or merely abetting the pushing of boundaries? I very much enjoyed this one. After I finish off an old tin of some ‘sleep’ blend, I’m going to order a few ounces.
White Anlers: Consider this! We can go to shops only in two, unless you have your own children with you. You have to got shopping cart, because you have to keep 15 sq. m. free around you. That’s circle with diameter 4,7 m. And of course nobody cares, for example you are picking the bread. If there isn’t cart for you, you have to wait outside the shop.
We don’t have an online orders available here (of groceries). I am going slightly mad, because I go only to shop and back, so going to post office was a nice change.
Leafhopper I completely agree with you, they are tough, but they make sense. Unless you are changing them every day or two, as here. They declare something, but they change their mind again and change it afterwards. So we are pretty much in stress what changes again, day after day! Looking at teas I shouldn’t buy… and daydreaming about trips and everything, that’s all I do if I am not having a lecture! Haha. Luckily my bank account is quite thin, so I don’t have money for all the tea I see. Kind of luck that Bar Harbor Tea Company haven’t replied to my question! On one hand it makes me sad, on other hand I don’t have to pay the shipping!
ashmanra: * I can imagine indeed! It’s much better than I have been expecting, especially seeing the almost only chamomile buds. I am curious what will be in the Advent Calendar! But I hope I will be able to *do not look before the day comes!
*derk: * You are teaching me that chamomile CAN be tasty! I think you push the boundaries that says chamomile is yuck. Not the blends! I was indeed worried it will be too strong in herbal note, I can imagine the same but with black tea base, but then it won’t be an evening blend, huh?
Martin you have my sympathy being stuck with so few shopping options. While I love going to the grocery store or a farmer’s market, I don’t drive and schelpping a week’s worth of groceries and pet supplies on a bus is very difficult. With COVID, I avoid the markets (indoor and outdoor) but am lucky enough to be able to have organic groceries delivered once a week from a local CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) plus Amazon (at least in the USA) has Whole Foods as well as Amazon Fresh delivery. There is also Fresh Direct, a big online grocery delivery service. I also can get pet supplies delivered through an online service-Chewy.com.
Even though many grocery stores now have special hours for senior citizens, I prefer not to take a chance being around a lot of people in a store. Reading about your very restricted options makes me grateful for all I have available here and also makes me feel less grouchy. I’m sorry you are so limited in your choices but I do thank you for (inadvertently) helping me to feel better about things here.
Grr these tough times. I’m wishing safety and health to you all! (Yeah, I’m slowly catching up on tasting notes and comments.)
Today shoppign was kind of distster; I had to go early morning because of lecture. So many people! As it has to be closed in Sundays, everyone needed get a breakfast. We had that limitation that 1 person/15 sq. m. — so you have to get the shopping cart. When I was returning the cart, there were only 3 left!
I got some loose leaf sample from California again; derk sent me some! Thank you!
I took two teaspoons and boiling water. Brewed grandpa. As we have peppermint in our garden, I wasn’t that impressed seeing another peppermint tea. But hey, this is so good as ours! Very fresh and I really liked the flavour. It wasn’t muddy, musty or just plain.
i am afraid I can’t say much more as it was as expected, minty and fresh. And as there aren’t any other ingredients, it was “just minty”. But good minty.
Flavors: Peppermint
Preparation
Glad to see this tasting note. I just ordered this tea for myself last night.
Bah, I would’ve sent you a good amount had I known. The four ounce size is too much for me.
derk No worries. Heaven help me if I start getting weak willed again and begin accepting more tea into my still bulging cupboards. Thanks for the thought! smiles
I need to get around to trying this tea, which Derk also generously sent me. It smells promising, though. (I’m not the only one to open and smell incoming teas in resealable bags, right?)
You aren’t only one Leafhopper, indeed zou aren’t. I have Advent Calendar from Shae and it’s uch hard to not open the envelopes!
Resealable packages? Ya, I like to steal a wiff. But nowadays I’m trying to leave all heat-sealed packages sealed until I’m ready to drink to preserve freshness. (There was once a time when I used to rip open ALL my new tea to smell them right away, and after accumulating so much and now trying to sip down those years-old tea, I realize what a dumb practice that was!)
Martin, glad to know I’m not the only one. :) I’d also be tempted by those little advent calendar envelopes!
Mastress Alita, I don’t open all my vacuum- or heat-sealed packages anymore either, although I remember a time when I’d cut open the resealable bags with a heat seal (though never the vacuum-sealed oolong packages). I have five or six bag clips and I limit myself to drinking only that many non-resealable teas. Since I gravitate toward green oolongs, which can go stale quickly, I’ve found this to be a good strategy.
I repackage the vacuum-sealed ones (or anything that won’t “reseal” after being cut open) into aluminum ziptop packaging (though it is infinitely annoying when a zip breaks away from the package… I have some bag clips like you describe exactly because of that problem, hahaha). But I used to do that right away, so I could smell the tea. With all new tea orders now, I’m making sure to keep them vacuum sealed/heat sealed right until the minute I’m ready for the first tasting! Takes me so long to get around to drinking things anymore that I may as well try to keep the flavor as long as possible…
That’s a good idea. Where do you get your empty ziptop bags? I also tend to go through teas slowly and probably don’t need any encouragement to open more of them!
@Mastress Alita – I’m getting to that point, too. I have so many older teas that are already open that I need to sipdown…
@Leafhopper: I purchase these ones, usually both the smallest size (good for samplers/up to an ounce or so) and the next size up (2-4oz depending on the tea).
Thanks! The price is reasonable, though the shipping to Canada pushes it up. I’ll have to check if Amazon Canada has these bags (though again, do I really need an excuse to open more tea pouches?).
A tea from Madeline as US version, but again, I think it will be pretty much same as UK, or international one. Thank you!
3 minutes were suitable instead of recommended four; it was really strong and bold almost biting and bitter. And tannic. I am not really sure it has got some other qualities than strong taste and probably high level of caffeine.
As always, drank plain. Not really call it smooth as they claim to be honest. And to be honest… it’s builder’s brew for sure. Won’t call it bad, but it’s not a tea I would look forward trying when seeing it somewhere. It’s common.
Flavors: Biting, Bitter, Tannic
haha, your excitement is palpable
I guess so!
But I wonder why I am the one who likes it the most?
Glad this was so well received!
Had to backtrack to see if I’ve ever tried this one. I don’t have a review to prove it, but your review is bringing back some very pleasant memories! Have another cup for me.